Abstract

Objectives: This project appraised behavioral patterns of children and mental health of parents in polygamous families.

Method:65 polygamous and 65 monogamous families from Saravan rural community were matched on factors such as having student child and place of residence.402 children in primary and guidance schools were evaluated by Rutter’s Questionnaire-Teacher Form and 325 of their parents were ass- essed by General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-24) and Davidian Screening Questionnaire-17. Data were processed by analysis of variance.

Findings: No significant difference was found in Rutter Questionnaire between the two groups on none of the variables of family type, sex, age, age of father, and number of children in the family. Comparison of GHQ-24 outcomes for both types of families showed that mental health of women in polygamous families was significantly worse than their own husbands and also that of the wives and husbands in the monogamous families. There was no significant difference in mental health of men in polygamous families, and men and women in monogamous families.

Results: Mental health of women in polygamous families is poorer than mental health of women in monogamous families.